Hello Everyone!
I'M SO VERY SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! But to make up for it I will be updating on Friday as well as next Monday :D
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Chapter 8 – Caution
Not an hour had passed before a booming voice filled the air, "And what may I ask are you all doing resting during the day!" Hermione jerked back out of shock at how close the voice was to her tree, hitting her head on a knot on the thick trunk. Rubbing her head she leaned down to better hear what was being said.
"We have a dinner party to get to," the voice said in a more bemused than annoyed tone this time. The dwarves below grumbled to each other as they picked up their gear and continued along the dirt path.
Hermione's gaze left the retreating dwarves only to be faced with sharp blue eyes boring down on her.
"What are you doing up there my dear," the tall man's voice much softer than before. The old man had long grey hair, an impressive beard, and a rather odd pointy hat. Deep creases & bushy eyebrows framed watery blue eyes whose depths showed his wisdom, they held that same knowing look that Dumbledore's eye once held. Hermione fumbled with the hem of her shirt hesitating,
"Are you Gandalf the Wizard?" A look flickered across his eyes, too quick for Hermione to register what it was.
"I am my lady. Do we know each other?" Hermione felt this sudden urge to tell this odd yet rather kind old man the truth.
"No," Hermione hesitated. "Gandalf, I've have some questions that need answering, would you indulge me?" He nodded for her to continue, "Where are we? And what year is it?" Hermione asked, attempting to use Snape's school façade of being blunt and straight to the point.
"We are in Middle Earth, and it is the third age 2941. Where is it that you are from?" Gandalf watched Hermione's reaction as he told her this information. When he told her they were in Middle Earth she seemed confused, but quickly masked her emotions from him. This was very curious and Gandalf was intrigued to learn more.
"Not from here." Hermione replied absently, her voice faint with in shock.
"I'm afraid I must keep moving to catch up with my companions, however if you wish to continue this conversation you are welcome to accompany me." suggested Gandalf as he realised the time, he had to catch up to the dwarves or they were likely to get lost.
"Alright." Hermione shifted her weight between her feet with unease, she leapt down from the fork in her tree and prowled alongside the wizard.
"You are born of magic, are you not?" Hermione froze.
"Yes, I am. However I think that you and I are different." Hermione stated, with caution she decided to learn more about him before revealing too much about herself.
"Hmm, I agree. I can feel a strange energy inside of you it's very strong, like nothing I have ever felt before." Gandalf stated and started walking again as Hermione had done so.
"You can feel my magic?" Hermione asked, intrigued by the notion of knowing how powerful your opponents were the instant you met.
"Yes, it is an ability that the wizards from this land are gifted with, I assume from your reaction that's not the same where you are from?"
"Sort of, though not straight away. You must be in close proximity with them for a time before realising their true level of power. However we can sense magic around us. You can feel it change like a sudden shift in the air." Hermione's interest was reaching boiling point, "Are there many witches and wizards here in… Middle Earth?"
"There are 5 of us, Wizards I mean. There are no females with the abilities of the istari." Hermione once again was shocked by his answer.
"Is that what wizards are called in this world, istari? Well in my world we are an entire race. There are so many of us all over the world I don't think we could ever truly determine our population" Hermione mused aloud.
"Yes but many in Middle Earth just call us wizards. That's very interesting, and are they all as powerful as you?" Gandalf asked looking down at the young lady whose name he had yet to learn.
"Oh others are more powerful," Hermione snorted as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "However, supposedly, I am special. I have been deemed 'The Protector'." Hermione watched the old man's reaction out of the corner of her eye, she saw his mouth drop and his eyes light up like a Christmas tree, showing her that .
"Is that so my lady," Beaming down at Hermione with a look that a grandfather would give his first grandchild, "There was a prophecy in this land that spoke of 'The Protector', one whose actions would determine the balance of the light and darkness in this world. Does that sound familiar to you by any chance?"
Hermione thought about his words for a moment as they continued along the path, "Yes and No. There too was a prophecy in my world but I never heard it. It also spoke of a Protector, one who would rise from amongst the ranks and defend the greater good not only in my time, but in another. I assume that this is that other time." She said looking pointedly at Gandalf.
"Well my lady you must be more powerful than you thought, besides power isn't always determined by our abilities." Hermione decided she would ponder this at another time, but for now she had other issues to attend to.
"I apologise for not informing you earlier, my name is Hermione Granger. You have to understand my need to be cautious. Landing in a foreign place, not knowing a soul, not knowing whom to trust."
Gandalf smiled at her, "I wouldn't have expected anything less your caution commends you Lady Hermione."
"I'm just Hermione, not Lady Hermione, I have no titles, I'm not that important."
"On the contrary Lady Hermione, you are of great importance to this land. Also in our world titles are importance, therefore you are to be known as Lady Hermione. Also might I suggest freshening up a little?"
Hermione looked at him for a moment slightly offended. Gandalf glanced at her lip and then down at her clothing, she realised she was still a mess from the battle. Hermione hadn't gone home with Ron and Harry after the battle, she had been searching through the rubble for bodies alive or dead and she was collecting items for her travels to this land thus she had no time to change or clean herself up.
"Oh, of course. Is there an inn nearby or…" she trailed off seeing as there didn't seem to be civilisation anywhere close by.
"No need to worry just yet. If necessary, I will find you a place to bathe and some more suitable clothes, something that will help you blend in a little." Hermione analysed the wizards long robe and thought back to the dwarves medieval like attire the pattern in the mens clothing was beginning to worry her over what the women must wear knowing that in her world the women of time of armour and wizards, wore large dresses.
"What kind of clothes do women wear in Middle Earth?" she asked hesitant to hear the answer.
"Oh, why many different styles. Each race have their own look, their own styles for both leisure and in the more agricultural based areas, work clothing." He cheerfully informed her, "But women wear dresses to be more general about it."
"No." Hermione stated bluntly, head held high daring him to challenge her.
Gandalf was taken aback by her response, "I don't understand Lady Hermione? Why do you not desire to wear a dress?"
"I don't wear dresses unless it is a formal occasion. In my world women can wear pants if they so choose and I have always chosen this option. Besides I have been informed that I was to help a people reclaim what was once lost and prevent darkness from obtaining a powerful weapon, these tasks are not to be completed in a dress. If I'm going to have to fight darkness again I'll be doing it in pants." Hermione raised her eyebrow emphasising that she would not back down on this matter.
"I have heard of this prophecy you speak of, perhaps you shall come with me after all." Gandalf smiled down at Hermione and this time she returned it. A little happier to know that soon she would discover her purpose here allowing her to return home to her friends sooner.